Page 64 - Queensland Islands & Whitsundays 2020

Grab a date with the Great 8!
The ‘Great 8’ can all be found on the
Southern Great Barrier Reef - Clownfish,
Giant Clams, Maori Wrasse, Potato Cod,
Manta Rays, Reef Sharks, Whales (in
season) and Turtles galore!

Visit the Southern Great Barrier Reef
and see a different side of this majestic
natural wonder. The region is home to
coral cays, tropical islands, a famous
surf beach, as well as some of
Australia’s friendliest people.

Those who take the time to explore Explore Great Keppel Island’s 17 beaches &
the relatively undiscovered Southern 26kms of walking tracks VIA Yeppoon
Great Barrier Reef will find themselves Try Australia’s most famous rum
rewarded with beautiful beaches, Unlock the secrets of the famous Turtley awesome!
pristine islands, incredible snorkelling Bundaberg Rum on a Distillery Experience
and diving, and extraordinary marine Tour or blend your own signature drink at
creatures including turtles, dolphins, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. It’s an amazing sight to see turtles venture
manta rays and spectacular coral up the beach to find a safe spot to dig
gardens. Find the ‘real’ Australia in a nest and lay their eggs; and then six
down-to-earth cities and laid-back to eight week later see baby hatchlings
country towns. Jump on the 1770 LARC! Tours emerge from their nests and scurry down
Board the iconic pink LARC! for a full day the beach to the ocean to continue the
adventure tour of dolphin spotting, beach circle of life.
cruising, lighthouse exploring and epic sand
boarding. November through to March each year is
turtle breeding season on the islands and
mainland beaches of the Southern Great
Cairns Barrier Reef.
Say g’day to Heron & Wilson Island’s turtles
VIA Gladstone
You could be lucky enough to stumble
across the turtles while walking along
the beach by yourself, but to ensure you
witness this miracle of nature, visit Mon
Great Barrier reef
Pumpkin Island Repos Conservation Park in Bargara. Mon
Great Keppel Island
Yeppoon Wilson Island Repos supports the largest concentration
Rockhampton Heron Island Explore spectacular limestone caves of nesting marine turtles on the Eastern
Gladstone Lady Musgrave Island The Capricorn Caves feature incredible Australian mainland. Visitors can get
Town of 1770 Lady Elliot Island above ground limestone caves formed from
Agnes Water Mon Repos an ancient coral reef over 400 million years up close and personal with nesting and
Bundaberg Bargara ago. hatching turtles on nightly Ranger guided
tours. This turtle experience is very popular,
so be sure to book ahead!
Fly Brisbane to
Brisbane Rockhampton 1 hr
Gladstone 1 hr
Bundaberg 55 mins Encounters
Snorkel or dive with rays on Lady Elliot Island with Nature
18hrs 25mins VIA Bundaberg
2hrs 10mins 10hrs 15mins

1hr 30mins HOW TO GET HERE Manta Ray Turtles
Peak Season
Sydney We’re easily accessible from
Queensland’s capital, Brisbane.
Just an hour by air and you’re arriving Manta Rays Seabirds
in any of our major centres of
Melbourne Rockhampton, Gladstone, or Bundaberg.
By car, it’s only 4.5 hours from Brisbane Humpback
to Bundaberg, and short driving distances Coral
between our chilled out coastal towns Whales Spawning
making for a relaxing roadtrip.

If trains or buses are more your style, Turtles: Snorkel &
that’s easy from Brisbane too.
BRISBANE Nesting Dive
4hrs 15mins4hrs 15mins BUNDABERG
5hrs 30mins5hrs 30mins 1hr 25mins1hr 25mins 1770/AGNES WATER
6hrs 05mins6hrs 05mins 2hrs 15mins2hrs 15mins 1hr 30mins1hr 30mins GLADSTONE Turtles:
7hrs 15mins7hrs 15mins 3hrs 25mins3hrs 25mins 2hrs 40mins2hrs 40mins 1hr 25mins1hr 25mins ROCKHAMPTON Explore Lady Musgrave Island’s lagoon Hatching
7hrs 50mins7hrs 50mins 4hrs4hrs 3hrs 15mins3hrs 15mins 2hrs2hrs 45mins45mins YEPPOON VIA Bundaberg and Town of 1770